Drug suspect killed in shootout with cops

CEBU, Philippines —  A ‘notorious’ drug suspect was killed after allegedly shooting it out with police operatives who are out to arrest him yesterday morning in Sitio Canapnapan, Barangay Campo 8, Toledo City.

The fatality was identified as Remigio Caballero Atelio, 51, resident of the place. His alleged cohort, Teodolo Juarez Insenso, 53, was arrested.

Operatives of Provincial Intelligence Branch-Drug Enforcement Group led by Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest for illegal drugs on Atelio yesterday but the latter allegedly fired at them using an M-16 rifle.

No one was hurt from the police but they were forced to return fire resulting in Atelio’s death. The police recovered the M-16 rifle used by the suspect with four loaded magazines, two caliber .45 pistol, KG-9 machine pistol, 9mm pistol, and assorted rounds of ammunition. Five medium and 35 small packs of shabu were also found in Atelio’s pocket.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena said the suspects used to live in Barangay Campo 4 but moved to Campo 8 to hide from the police. Abrugena said Atelio worked for a drug lord and is believed to be responsible in the series of killings in Talisay City last year.

Abrugena said he personally went to check the encounter site yesterday and found bullet markings on the trees indicating a shootout.

 “I was there to inspect the area and I saw that there were markings from the trees sa nangyari, which is positive na nagpaputok si Atelio at yung firearms na na-recover sa kanya, we can surmise na handa talaga siya makipagpatayan,” Abrugena said.

He said there was no overkill in what happened and that they would welcome investigation from the Commission on Human Rights.

Abrugena said the firearms recovered from Atelio will be submitted for ballistic examination and cross matching to determine if these were used in previous crimes.

Buy-Busts

In another operation, three suspected drug pushers were arrested Thursday by the members of Drug Enforcement Unit of Mambaling Police Station in Barangays Duljo-Fatima and San Nicolas.

The suspects were identified as Virgo Cellar, 22; Siegfred Villadolid, 34, both residents of Sitio Plastican, Barangay Duljo Fatima; and Riyadh Bisen, 32, resident of Barangay San Nicolas.

Cellar and Villadolid were arrested first during a buy-bust operation along C. Padilla Street. Seized from them were six medium packs and 19 small sachets of shabu worth P211 752.

The same team arrested Bisen at Carlock Street in Barangay San Nicolas few hours later. Seized from him were nine small sachets and five medium packs of illegal drugs with an estimated worth of P173 672.

The three suspects are now detained at Mambaling Police Station while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared for filing.

Dacalos Killing

Meanwhile, a special investigation task group (SITG) will be created to investigate the shooting to death of San Fernando town councilor Reneboy Dacalos Thursday afternoon.

Police Regional Office-7 deputy director for operations Senior Supt. Angelo Dumangeng will lead the investigating team. Police are looking at three possible motives in the killing of Dacalos, including his alleged involvement in illegal drugs, business rivalry, and politics.

San Fernando Police Station chief Senior Insp. Arvi Arbuis earlier identified Dacalos as high value target. He was included in the drug matrix of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones. In fact, he had been subjected to “Oplan Tokhang” but allegedly refused to surrender.

Dacalos, 51, was shot dead by four unidentified gunmen in Barangay Poblacion, San Fernando last Thursday evening. He was the second town councilor murdered in less than one year. — USJ-R Intern Marjory D. Enriquez, FPL (FREEMAN)